the bible, ot & nt, certainty doesn't prohibit the most basic of human civil rights, freedom from slavery.
of course, the bible was used to justify the ownership of slaves in america, as in many other lands.. an often-forgotten footnote in the history of america is that there was a time when poor white irish were imported from ireland to be sold as slaves during the 17th and 18th century.
in fact, their worth was considered even lower than that of black slaves, who often fetched a price 10x that of an irish slave!
An example of the slave trade that astounded me when I first read of it was of the English who used to enslave the Welsh, in fact the English word for the Welsh then became synonymous with slave, and the English exported the slaves to Africa !
...also (unrepealed Law)... Any resident of Chester is allowed to shoot a Welshman with a longbow if he is within the city walls on a Sunday (after sunset..?)
i have a new article at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/birthdays.php outlining why the watchtower stance against birthdays is wrong.
there have been a number of threads on jwn discussing this, and the article collates and summarises the points raised in these threads.
please feel free to point out any errors in grammar or logic.
My parents had me almost convinced that I was not missing out by not celebrating my birthday, but watching my son shows me how much I did miss out on.
So true. It was my birthday last week, and I had three cards (one of those being from someone I've never met - but befriended in recent years on internet). I used to feel sad when I'd see my friends have a whole windowsill of cards - yet those who knew when my birthday was were discouraged from acknowledging it.
i have a new article at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/birthdays.php outlining why the watchtower stance against birthdays is wrong.
there have been a number of threads on jwn discussing this, and the article collates and summarises the points raised in these threads.
please feel free to point out any errors in grammar or logic.
Love it...thank you.
i just thought you should know that mrs cedars has finally taken the plunge and joined the forum.
she was able to log on for the first time yesterday.. though we both "awakened" at different stages, mrs cedars was very supportive and non-judgmental when i first began exploring my beliefs from a critical standpoint.
she is currently in the process of reading crisis of conscience and aquainting herself with some of the facts of witness history that were hitherto unknown.
Hello there Mrs Cedars...welcome
Yes, I'm all for a recipe thread!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2174181/sales-rep-repeatedly-accused-gay-didn-t-like-football-wins-44-000-payout-harassment.html.
sales rep who was branded 'gay' because he didnt like football wins 44,000 payout following months of 'atrocious' bullying.
michael austin was branded a 'crafty butcher' by his workmates.
Another refreshing article (marked). It's a tad 'unusual' that the JWs are so passionate about football. Tut tut.
Happy Birthday Nugget!! Smashing photos...can you put any (JWN) names to faces..?
looks like it's fun.
there's a cool story in there about how a ministerial servant got deleted for playing violent video games, and then wrote to the branch office about it and told people in his congregation.
classy, guys, really classy.
There's a cool story in there about how a ministerial servant got deleted for playing violent video games, and then wrote to the branch office about it and told people in his congregation.
Lol - wouldn't it be fun if ''Sparlock'' was released as an xbox/PS3/'video' game..?
in the latest october 15th 2012 watchtower (page 13).... "because of what they perceive as defects in the elders, some individuals who engage in serious wrongdoing in the congregation have refused to appear before a committee of elders assigned to help them.
this could be likened to a patient who loses out on the benefits of a treatment because he does not like something about the doctor.".
sounds like they're now trying to stigmatize those who try to avoid judical action.
We go (we're not forced) to the doctors (professionals) for our own benefit - and they have OUR best interests at heart. JCs are forced upon ''us'' by amateurs and usually to our detriment. The Elders/GP comparison is not logical (we don't 'mix' with our GPs on a regular/'social' basis, so we never have 'personal' issues with them) There seems to be a bit of a theme lately where Elders are being 'promoted' to be on a par with professionals - I suppose the Society wants the R&F to view them more in an elevated position.
i had my co visit not too long ago and in our conversation on technology (i'm an apple guy) he stated that within the last year the branch supplied all traveling overseers with free ipads to use.
he then proceeded to tell me he doesnt personally bring his to the meetings as not to stumble anyone (or maybe because we might see his high score on temple run).
i was pretty surprised by this and began wondering... are jw donations towards the world wide work going to ipads for do's and co's to use in their spare time?
So - they're actually rejecting technology (by using the media, TV, radio etc, which would be cheaper and would reach more people) to spread their 'life saving message' - whilst embracing technology to spread their literature, letters etc between a select few.
i brought up the conti case with a newly x- jw and they said that the child molestion policy was changed in 90's as far as elders reporting to the authorities.
so my question is what was the policy changed from and what did it change to?
and what is the most current letter that we have a copy of regarding the reporting policy?
NEVER SUGGEST TO ANYONE THAT THEY SHOULD NOT REPORT AN ALLEGATION OF CHILD ABUSE TO THE POLICE OR OTHER AUTHORITIES.
Which implies the opposite too - so don't suggest either way.
